MartinBlank76
Posts: 1303
Joined: 7/10/2005
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ORIGINAL: Spaldron
quote:
ORIGINAL: MartinBlank76
Well, did the final chapter last night – return of the king extended edition. 4 hours that felt like it could have went on for another few hours I wouldn’t minded a jot. Though I suppose you can have too much of a good thing. To me the extended editions are the perfect versions, all the new footage fits perfectly so much so that since its been a while since I have watched the theatrical I find it hard at times to remember – is that a new bit? Is that? But it doesn’t matter because nearly all of it fits in seamlessly. These were not moments cut out due to lack of quality. In fact some of the moments that were cut surprise me they didnt make it into the theatrical version specifically the end of a number of the villans such as saruman, the mouth of sauron and big doughead orc, leader of the assault on Minus Tirith. For a film were you dont actually get a straightforward showdown with the main bad guy it is unusual that he didnt give the cinema audience the typical closure of us being able to cheer as the villans are slayed not just once but three times. Though I suppose the witch king does get it.
There were a few moments were the new scenes maybe weren’t feeling quite as in the right place, such as Eowyn being confined to bed, healed by Aragorns magic hankie, and then rising after a full nights sleep to lock eyes with Faramir lurking outside, probably thinking to herself, ‘sod Aragorn, he’ll do’. In all that time Pippin was still searching the battlefield for merry, though I suppose that gives a good idea of the carnage wrought, and the casualties lying slain, and the depth of pippins devotion to merry.
I can see why he dropped the army of the dead surprising the pirates since it is pretty much the same scene when they arrive at the battle but its insertion doesn’t really bother me.
The four hours just flies by and each time I watch the numerous goodbyes at the end I do not feel like its too much but rather just right considering its a farewell not just to one epic film but to three. I like them ending back in hobitton the camera resting on sams door, though frodo sailing away just before that feels like a pretty good ending too.
The battle of Minus Tirith had a lot of pressure on it to outdo helms deep, though I dont think it needs too, both battle are awe inspiring spectacles and while minus tirith starts as a siege like helms deep it ends on pelanor fields marking it out as different and on a much greater scale. Denathor finally seeing what is happening outside his walls when he comes face to face with the host that awaits reminds me of the scene outside Isengard in two towers except this is even more pants filling especially if you are a resident of minus tirith. While it doesn’t actually show denathor using a palantir stone, he gives plenty of hints that is the case. Such as his knowledge of Aragorn and his procolamation on top of Faramirs funeral pyre. A madman who has been defeated by the hopelessness of his task laid low by grief, but also the hint that he is not blatantly in saurons pocket but that his mind has been weakened by him.
Some more great Jackson trademark swooping camerawork in this, especially when the nazgul are flying and attacking the citys defences, lifting soldiers and hurling them to their doom. The special effects still rock in this and any tiny moments of over-CGIness arent enough to take you out of the film. Legolas balancing skills in the elephant attack being the closest it comes, but still a great scene.
My misty eyed moment this time came from a different hobbit instead of sam for once, merry and his speech about fighting for his friends to Eowyn. Also at the end with the ‘you bow to no one’ moment but that was caused more by the wave of emotion you feel at that moment, almost like its been building up throughout the trilogy and this is when it is released.
Frodo was quite a stout hearted fellow to be able to resist and bear the ring for so long. Considering how quickly others get corrupted. No quicker than smeagol, he had only laid eyes on the ring and his hands were round his friends neck. He must have been a bit of a unsavoury chap already.
I feel sorry for good ol faramir, despite all his troubles he still took a few minutes to banter with and comfort pippin, before his father sent him to his death. I can only assume Denathor wasn’t always so objectionable to have raised boromir and faramir. Great performance by John Noble, while being quite hissable you do have a modicum of sympathy because of his portrayal you feel its not all his fault, that he is not all in charge of his faculties, that he is being driven quite mad. Great shot of him running aflame and leaping from the highest point in the city as the camera swoops down into the battle again.
Even amongst all the spectacle, battles and moments that take your breath away, Jackson and the trilogy as a whole still find time, and prove most expert at those quieter character based moments, that pluck at the heart, fill you with sadness or cause the emotion you feel at the end of this journey to be even greater. Faramirs attempt to retake osgiliarth cut with pippin singing a sad song just captures all what you are meant to feel despite Jackson not showing you the cost of the attack. Gandalf and Pippin share many nice heartfelt moments in this and for once pippin becomes more than the comic relief, more than just a fool of a took.
The lighting of the beacons. Just awesome.
Howard Shores score. Still awesome.
There are plenty of elves throughout the trilogy, were are all the dwarves? Hiding under the mountain? Is that their excuse for not seeing the beacons and not coming to gondors aid? Surely even under the mountain they would not be safe from Saurons wrath. Or else they are fighting elsewhere.
The ride of the rohirrim. When I saw this in the cinema I had to resist the temptation to stand up and shout CHARRRRGEEE! I had that temptation all over again last night and though yet again I refrained from indulging. I am sure my neighbour next door would have understood, and thought, ‘watching the ride of the rohirrim I betcha.’
While the battles of helms deep and minus tirith still leave my gob on the floor and thrill me to the edge of my seat my favourite action scene of the trilogy is in fellowship. The battle at the end, boromirs last stand, Aragorn facing down the horde by himself, the expression on his face saying, ‘come and get it’ and his duel with the uruk hai which seems to be going against him before he unleashes his finishing move.
All three are 10/10 masterpieces for me, with fellowship having the slight edge, I dont know if its because it was the first and the whole world seemed fresh and new, or maybe its just because I liked the fellowship themselves so much, their journey and camaraderie together. Not that the journeys of the fragmented fellowship weren’t totally compelling but there was some kind of feeling to the first film, a feeling of hope and magic that understandably changes as the dark hand of Sauron spreads across middle earth. The perfect trilogy and an amazing cinematic achievement which I am sure shall still thrill me for years to come.
This ^ sums up why LOTR is better that Star Wars.
I love star wars, hell I even like the prequels, and star wars was my first movie love but the only star wars film that comes close to LOTR is empire. What george kept forgetting, especially in the prequels, and what were so important in LOTR are those special little moments that LOTR was stuffed with, that helped you emotionally engage with this world and get to know and love these characters.
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I'm just a fella. I think beer should be cold and boots should be dusty. I think 911 was bad. And freedom? Well, I think thats just a little bit better.
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